Overview:In California, as the minimally regulated activity involved in the cannabis economy makes the transition to being much more regulated, there will be a steep learning curve for those choosing to make a living in this quickly evolving economic enterprise system. This page provides links to resources and information to help stakeholders begin to understand this process. In general, cannabis regulatory requirements in California originate from three sources: State laws, Local County Ordinances, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Workshops:The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) and Mad River Alliance have partnered with Humboldt Green, California Growers Association and the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District in hosting a series Cannabis Farmers Compliance Workshops to aid growers and others in navigating the process for "Growing Green and Growing Legal." Additionally, EPIC, in conjunction with Mad River Alliance, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, Department of Fish & Wildlife and Humboldt County, created a user-friendly 2016 Compliance Handbook which will be available at these workshops and can also be obtained on-line. See the links below.

County Ordinance:According to the Humboldt County Commercial Medical Marijuana Permitting webpage: "The Commercial Medical Marijuana Land Use Ordinance (CMMLUO) recently adopted by the Board of Supervisors became effective Friday, February 26, 2016. This is the date the Planning and Building Department will begin accepting applications for projects in the Inland Zone. Applications for projects located in the Coastal Zone are not accepted at this time. The ordinance has not yet been certified by the California Coastal Commission."

California State Legislation:In 2015, the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed into law, three bills (Assembly Bills 243 and 266, and Senate Bill 643) that create a licensing and regulatory framework for medical marijuana. It is anticipated that the regulations will be developed by January 1, 2018.

If you are growing cannabis in California within the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board District and have 2000 square feet or more of cultivated area you are required to enroll in the Cannabis Cultivation Waste Discharge Regulatory Program. The deadline for enrollment in this program is Feb. 15, 2016. To enroll you must fill out a Notice of Intent form and return it to the Water Board. If you are growing cannabis with 2000 square feet or more of cultivated area and have not submitted this form you are out of compliance and subject to enforcement action.

The Water Board's Resource page describes the three tiers in the progam as follows:

a) Tier 1 is a low-threat tier based on compliance with standard conditions and site characteristics (less than 5000 ft2 of total cultivated area, no cultivation on slopes greater than 35%, no cultivation areas or associated facilities are located within 200 feet of a surface water (i.e., wetland, Class I, II, or III streams), and no surface water diversion from May 15 - October 31. The annual fee is $1000.

b) Tier 2 is a management tier for operations that do not meet the standard conditions or otherwise do not qualify for Tier 1. Within 180 days of enrollment, Tier 2 enrollees shall develop and implement a site-specific water resource protection plan that includes management measures to be implemented to meet the standard conditions. The annual fee is $2500.

c) Tier 2* is a tier for operations with less than 10,000 ft2 of total cultivated area, where enrollees have fully implemented a water resource protection plan, meet the standard conditions, and are determined by RWB staff or an approved third party to pose a low threat to water quality. The annual fee is $1000.

d) Tier 3 is a cleanup tier, which requires the development and implementation of a cleanup and restoration plan. A Tier 3 enrollee has 45 days to develop and submit a cleanup and restoration plan for RWB approval. Tier 3 is not eligible for enrollment via a third party program. Tier 3 Dischargers who are cultivating cannabis concurrent with or following site cleanup activities must also enroll in and conform with Tier 2 requirements. The annual fee is $10,000.

Use the SoundCloud Module below to listen to an interview on KMUD News with Ed Denson, a local attorney specializing in marijuana defense, discussing the importance of submitting the Notice of Intent. This interview was aired on KMUD Feb. 9, 2016.

Last September, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors directed the County Planning Department Staff to create a draft Medical Marijuana Land Use Ordinance (MMLUO) that would be in compliance with existing state and county requirements. In October, that completed draft was forwarded from the Planning Department to the Humboldt County Supervisors. On Nov 5, the Supervisors then sent that draft on to the Planning Commission for review. After a series of around ten meetings, the Planning Commission made numerous significant changes to the October draft and sent their revised draft back to the Supervisors on December 3. In a letter accompanying the revision sent to the Supervisors, Planning Commission Chair, Robert Morris, described the process as: “…long and complex with public testimony voluminous and varied.” The Supervisors also received a letter, dated Dec. 3, from Humboldt County Planning Commissioner Noah Levy, explaining why he was unable to vote to recommend that the Supervisors approve the MMLUO as it had been amended during the course of the Commission’s hearings.

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will begin hearings on the revised draft ordinance in their meeting on Jan 5, 2015. Use the links below to view or download copies of:

Last September the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors agreed to use the latest medical marijuana cultivation ordinance draft from the political action group California Cannabis Voice-Humboldt (CCVH) as input as the Sups work through the process of crafting their own countywide ordinance governing outdoor cultivation of grows on parcels of larger than five acres. The complex task of drafting this county ordinance involves insuring that it will be in compliance with existing state and county requirements and is further complicated by a relatively short timeline. The timeline for having an ordinance in place is March 1, 2016 and results from a requirement that unless counties have adopted their own regulations by then they will need to adhere to state regulations.

To begin that process, the Humboldt Board of Supervisors directed the County Council Staff to create a draft ordinance that would be in compliance with state law. This draft has now been completed and is scheduled for review by the Planning Commission on Thursday, November 5 at 6 pm in the Board of Supervisors' Chamber, 825 Fifth Street, Eureka, California. After that review, the draft will be sent back to the Supervisors for review and adoption. Public input will be taken as the proposed ordinance goes through the process.

The Humboldt Complex fires burning near Alderpoint, Blocksburg, Bridgeville, Zenia and Fort Seward have consumed 4,883 acres and are now 90% contained, according to Cal Fire data. Fire growth is not anticipated on the Blocksburg , Dobbyn, Steelhead, Wildcat or Winchester Fires.

The Bluford Fire is still putting off smokes, meaning trees and brush inside the containment zone are igniting and burning, so Calfire will continue to patrol the Bluford Fire.

At this Sunday morning 7 am Calfire briefing, firefighters were told to stay vigilant as operations wind down on the Humboldt Complex.

The Pine Mountain Fire is looking good. Firefighters will continue to improve the containment line around the fire. Division L & C. West Side of Pine. Firehose is being picked up. Firefighters are in patrol status and they will begin suppression repair today. Suppression repair means bulldozers and handcrews will repair any damage to bridges, roads and culverts that happened during the firefighting operation. Division R, on the East Side of the Pine Fire, is getting cleaned up today. Lots of firehose will be pulled out and the pumps will come out of Dobbyn Creek.

There is a new firing operation team heading to the northern containment line. They will evaluate the Lassic Fire’s movement toward the Pine Fire and decide whether or not they need to set fires along the northern containment line. As of this Sunday morning, the Lassic Fire is backing down into Little Van Duzen Creek. It’s a slow moving backing fire but has the potential to impact the Humboldt Complex, so firefighters were told that, “The firing team needs to be ready in case it pushes our hand.”

Demobilization is underway. Bulldozers that completed the northern contingency line are being sent to other fires. At the briefing it was mentioned, “There will be a lot of iron on the road today.” Everyone driving Alderpoint Road today and tomorrow is asked to use extreme caution. There will be a lot of heavy equipment on the local roads.

Incident Commander, Tom Nix, reminded firefighters of the weeks of work put into containing the Humboldt Complex fires, “It started as 75 fires, you need to continue the good work. Get it done and head to your next assignment.”

Turning to the latest news from the Mad River Complex Fires, managed by the US Forest Service, including the Lassic Fire burning 2 miles north of the Humboldt Complex Pine Fire, according to the USFS Sunday morning 8 am update, the Mad River Complex burning near Ruth Lake has consumed 22, 807 acres and is 60% contained. There are 14 crews, 146 engines, 4 helicopters, 14 dozers and 22 water tenders committed to the Mad River Complex. That’s a 400 acre increase in a day and two dozen more engines added to the complex operations. Of the three fires in the Mad River Complex, the Lassic Fire burning 2 miles north of the Humboldt Complex is the least contained, and it’s burning without containment on the west side which is moving toward the Humboldt Complex contingency line which is 4 blades wide.

USFS CURRENT FIRE SITUATION/MAD RIVER COMPLEX:

The Lassic Fire is burning 3,968 acres; it is 24 percent contained. Last night the fire was not very active. The fire has not spread north out of the Blanket Creek drainage. If the fire jumps, Blanket Creek residents will be under a mandatory evacuation. Today, crews will continue constructing fire-line on the west side in the Little Van Duzen River drainage.

Moving east on the map, the Gobbler Fire is 8,287 acres along the west side of Ruth Lake; it is 100 percent contained. Today, residents might see smoke coming from the interior, but USFS wants everyone to know, “The containment line is secure”. Crews will continue to monitor and patrol the fire’s perimeter to ensure that it remains secure. Crews will also be removing equipment, hose, and trash from the fire-lines. The suppression-rehabilitation process has begun, with a road-grader improving roads south of the fire.

Pickett Fire is burning 10,552acres on the east side of Ruth Lake. It is 50 percent contained. Last night, crews conducted defensive firing operations south of Highway 36 near Granite Canyon. The goal is to finish that operation today to prevent the fire from spreading to Highway 36. Many large rocks and trees are rolling onto Highway 36, posing a safety hazard, and Highway 36remains closed to the public. Smoke is expected to linger over the fire area throughout the day and will likely prevent helicopters from supporting firefighters on the ground. On the southwest side of the fire, along Lower Mad River Road, firefighters will patrol the perimeter.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIORToday will be hot and dry with temperatures in the 90s, and the relative humidity could drop into the teens. These are the warmest and driest conditions in the area since the fire started, which could lead to increased fire activity. Fire behavior will be minimal in smoke-shaded areas.

ROAD CLOSURES, EVACUATIONS, AND FOREST AREA CLOSURESThe Van Duzen Road and Lower Mad River Road are now open to all traffic. Firefighters are still working along these roads, so please slow down when you are in the fire area.Due to continued fire activity in the Ruth Lake area, the Forest Glen area, and the Mt. Lassic Wilderness, many Forest Service roads and campgrounds remain closed.

Mandatory Evacuation: Residents in the Forest Glen area remain under a mandatory evacuation order.

Advisory Evacuation: Residents in the Swayback Ridge Area remain under an evacuation advisory.

Turning to Statewide Fire News, this is the latest information, issued by Calfire on Saturday: 17 active wildfires continue to burn in California, with over 13,000 firefighters on the frontlines. On Friday, crews were able to fully contain the largest wildfire of the year, the Rocky Fire, which burned just under 70,000 acres. Temperatures this weekend are on the rise, which combined with gusty north winds in the Sacramento Valley will elevate the fire risk. Wind speeds are expected between 8-18 mph with gusts to around 25 mph. In Southern California, record heat is expected.

This weekend CAL FIRE is again urging the public to careful with outdoor activities. Whether it’s camping, barbequing or off-road driving, conditions are ripe for a simple spark to ignite a wildfire. One Less Spark means One Less Wildfire. Learn more at www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

The Humboldt Complex fires burning near Alderpoint, Blocksburg, Bridgeville, Zenia and Fort Seward have consumed 4,883 acres and are now 70% contained, according to Cal Fire data. Fire growth is not anticipated on the Blocksburg , Bluford, Dobbyn, Steelhead, Wildcat or Winchester Fires.

Calfire’s Incident Update Sheet states, “Fires are burning in steep, rugged terrain with poor access and heavy timber fuels. Fires threaten Mount Lassic Wilderness, as well as commercial timberland. Much of the timberland is owned by small timberland and rangeland owners, who rely on timber and range revenue for a steady source of income. Fires threaten habitat for threatened and endangered species. There are several fires burning near the Humboldt Complex in United States Forest Service jurisdiction, including in the Shasta/Trinity National Forest. CAL FIRE is coordinating with the USFS to implement control lines on some of these fires. For information on the USFS fires contact: 530-628-0039.”

“Don’t get complacent” that was the message at this Friday morning’s 7 am Calfire briefing. Night Operations Chief Vince Bergland said everything is looking good. "Firehose is being taken off the Blocksburg, Steelhead and Dobbyn fires. The Winchester and Wildcat Fires are in patrol status and suppression repair is underway. The Bluford Fire did have a couple of smokes yesterday but it’s staying in patrol status.

Operations Chief, Felix Berbena, focused on the Pine Fire: The west side, Division C & L, have islands of timber burning inside the containment line. There is firehose on Division C, and firefighters are still working it. The “pocket” is looking better every day; that’s the irregularly shaped containment line along the south-west corner of the Pine Fire. Hot spots on the east side, Division R, are being worked.

The bulldozers traveled out to the 08 road at 5 am this Friday morning. They’re focused on the contingency line north, making sure everyone is ready for the Lassic Fire movement our direction.

Air Operations Branch Director, Matt Stanford, said 11 helicopters are working the Humboldt Complex today. As ground crews start to de-mobilize, air ops is ramping up activity. Hot deck was at 8 am.

Calfire Fire Behavior Specialist, Scott Jones, explained the FIRE BEHAVIOR FORECAST: Yesterday, Thurs., Aug. 13, reported minimal levels of fire activity throughout the complex. During a firing operation, fire held to the brush fuels with little to no extension into the canopy. The diversity of fuel types can create varying levels of intensity if a fire makes a run. The opportunity for fire to climb the ladder fuels into the canopy does remain a concern.

Branch III (Pine & Bluford Fires): The Pine has the most potential currently. DIV R has open and smoldering areas of fire from yesterday’s black line operation. Steep terrain, and a diverse fuel load emphasize the need to maintain situational awareness to changing fire conditions. Any fires in the canyon or into the canopy can become active and increase in intensity with little or no notice.

And in the Mad River Complex: According to the fire behavior forecast,“the current weather pattern may enhance a higher level of fire intensity. The good news…..The current fuel load is not supporting a sustained run and it is keeping the current fire confined to ground fuels with individual tree torching and heavy smoke production.”

Calfire’s Humboldt Del Norte Unit Chief, Hugh Scanlon, said he traveled to the Mad Complex and other USFS fires yesterday. Calfire is working with the USFS on contingency plans for the Lassic Fire movement. He said, “The work you have done is really helpful. We will be using the Calfire-created bulldozer line as the contingency line as the Lassic Fire moves our way. The models show it’ll be two days. Our line will be the line. And I really appreciate that.”

Turning to the latest news from the Mad River Complex Fires managed by the US Forest Service, including the Lassic Fire burning 2 miles north of the Humboldt Complex Pine Fire.

According to this Friday morning’s 8 am USFS update, the Mad River Complex is burning 21,955 acres in total with 50% containment.

The Lassic Fire is burning 3,507acres. Crews held the fire-lines last night. Today, Friday, crews will look for opportunities to build line adjacent to the fire’s edge where the fire has crept over Blanket Creek. The goal is to limit fire growth toward the northwest and the populated Swayback Ridge area to the north. Firefighters are prepared to use defensive firing to limit the fire’s spread to the east along Forest Road 01S07.

The Pickett Fire is burning 10,161acres. Night crews held the fire line on the northeast side of the fire near Forest Glen where day crews had conducted defensive firing operations. The fire spotted across Highway 36 yesterday afternoon in a few areas, which the night crews successfully mopped up. Today crews will continue to monitor the fire as it slowly backs down slope toward Highway 36. Structure protection crews will remain in the Forest Glen area.

The Gobbler Fire is burning 8,287 acres. Last night crews patrolled the fire, which is largely contained and not active around its perimeter. Today, crews will continue to mop up and begin suppression-rehabilitation work in preparation for road closures and evacuations being lifted in the near future. Fire weakened trees falling on roads continues to be a safety concern.

EVACUATIONS AND NATIONAL FOREST AREA CLOSURES

Mandatory: A mandatory evacuation order is in place for residents in the Forest Glen area and Ruth Lake. The evacuation includes the Lower Mad River Road (County Road 501) from Highway 36 to the Three Forks Road and the southwest side of the lake from Ruth/Zenia Road north to the Ruth Dam.

Advisory: An evacuation advisory is in place for the Swayback Ridge area as well as the residents along the Van Duzen Road from the dump south to the intersection of the Ruth/Zenia Road.

Soft Closure(residents with IDs allowed to travel): The Van Duzen Road (County Road 511) from the junction of Highway 36 to the Ruth/Zenia Road (County Road 502). As well as Lower Mad River Road (County Road 501) from the junction with Highway 36 to the Flying Double A Ranch.

The Public Information Number for all fires burning in the Mad River Complex, including the Lassic Fire is: 707-574-6289For evacuation and road closure information please call the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office at: (530) 623-2611.

A quick note, the South Complex Fires are burning 17,234 acres with 20% containment in the Shasta Trinity National Forest.

A public meeting will be held in Hyampom at the Hyampom VFD at 4pm TODAY

A public meeting will be held in Burnt Ranch at the Burnt Ranch School at 6pm TODAY

At this Thursday morning’s 7 am Calfire briefing, firefighters were warned that winds are picking up. That means there’s more fire activity inside all contained fires and more smoke which is worrying local residents. Firefighters were told to stay vigilant because of the increased fire potential and the constant hazard tree threat inside all contained fires in the Humboldt Complex. Crews were also warned that the Lassic Fire, burning just 3 miles north of the Pine Mountain Fire, is starting to merge with Calfire’s operations in the Humboldt Complex. During the briefing it was said,“Our federal brothers are working the Mad River Complex north-east of us; we are starting to merge our operations.”

Operations Chief, Felix Berbena, focused on the Pine Fire. The bulldozer lines around both the west side (Division C) and the northern edge of the Pine Fire (Div L) are looking good. Fire-hose was installed, and crews continue to monitor the fire activity. Division R on the east side of the Pine Fire is still the most active. Crews conducted a successful firing operation along the eastern flank Wednesday night. Firefighters were told to “keep your heads on a swivel; safety is key.”

Calfire Fire Behavior Specialist, Scott Jones, explained the Fire Behavior Forecast:Yesterday reported lower levels of fire activity throughout the Humboldt Complex. During the firing operation, fire held to the brush fuels with little to no extension into the canopy. The diversity of fuel types can create varying levels of intensity if a fire makes a run. The opportunity for fire to climb the ladder fuels into the canopy does remain a concern. With steep canyons and heavy 4 year drought stressed fuel loads, any established fire making a run should be considered to have the potential to show signs of extreme fire behavior.

Branch III. Pine & Bluford Fires - The Pine has the most potential currently. DIV. R has open and smoldering areas of the fire from yesterday’s black line operation. Steep terrain, and a diverse fuel load emphasize the need to maintain situational awareness to changing fire conditions. Any fires in the canyon, or into the canopy, can become active and increase in intensity with little or no notice.

In the Mad River Complex (The Mad River Complex Fires are burning north east of the Humboldt Complex Fires.) - The current weather pattern should not enhance any higher levels of fire intensity. The current fire is remaining confined to ground fuels, with individual tree torching and heavy smoke production.

Incident Commander Deputy Chief, Mark McKey, thanked all of the crews for their hard work saying, “You’ve turned this fire complex from a system of chaos into a system of control.”

There are several fires burning near the Humboldt Complex in United States Forest Service jurisdiction, including in the Shasta/Trinity National Forest.

According to this Thursday morning’s 8 am USFS update, firefighters continued to make good progress in the overall containment efforts of the complex overnight. Smoke or clouds over the fire has had a dampening effect on fire behavior. The forecast of clearing skies will be an indicator of increased fire behavior. Fire officials are evaluating the possibility of lifting some of the mandatory evacuation areas.

Lassic Fire (3,323 acres) - Crews will be utilizing direct and indirect line construction and defensive firing operations as appropriate to contain the fire northwest of Forest Road 01S07. Contingency lines are being established in the surrounding area to assist the stop of fire spread. An additional goal is to provide structure protection in Swayback area as conditions dictate.

Gobbler Fire (8,280 acres) - Good progress was made in holding the fire within the established lines. Crews will continue to patrol and mop up to secure the perimeter, protect structures and monitor unburned island adjacent to the fires edge and continue to identify and eliminate hazard trees adjacent to structures.

Pickett Fire (9,662 acres) - Crews will monitor and patrol along Highway 36 to limit fire spread potential north of Highway 36 and east of the 1S26 Rd. and construct direct and indirect line as appropriate and perform firing operations as the fire dictates and conditions allow. Structure protection engines and hose-lays are in place for the Forest Glen area.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:Near critical fire weather conditions with gusty winds and low humidity are expected in the area through Thursday. With these conditions the fire is expected to remain active.

EVACUATIONS AND NATIONAL FOREST AREA CLOSURES:Mandatory: A mandatory evacuation order is in place for residents in the Forest Glen area and Ruth Lake. The evacuation includes the Lower Mad River Road (County Road 501) from Highway 36 to the Three Forks Road and the southwest side of the lake from Ruth/Zenia Road north to the Ruth Dam.

Advisory: An evacuation advisory is in place for the Swayback Ridge area as well as the residents along the Van Duzen Road from the dump south to the intersection of the Ruth/Zenia Road.

On August 8, 2015 the Shasta-Trinity National Forest issued a Fire Closure for the Forest Glen area south of Highway 36 to the forest boundary to provide for public and firefighter safety.

Soft Closure (residents with IDs allowed to travel) is in effect on the Van Duzen Road (County Road 511) from the junction of Highway 36 to the Ruth/Zenia Road (County Road 502), as well as Lower Mad River Road (County Road 501) from the junction with Highway 36 to the Flying Double A Ranch.

For information or questions on evacuation and road closure status of the area call the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office at: (530) 623-2611.

At this Tuesday morning’s 7 am Calfire briefing, Night Operations Chief Vince Bergland said firefighters continue to work hot spots within the smaller five fires burning in the complex and night crews have started pulling fire-hose off of some fires. The primary focus is the Pine Fire and Chief Bergland said night crews “turned the corner on the west side.” They are now actively mopping up on the west side of the Pine Fire. Crews are working on handline on the east side. A tree did fall on an inmate Monday night around 10 pm. He was working on the Pine Fire’s H-2 south-east section. The injured man was treated for injuries and has been released from the hospital.

Pine R is of primary concern on the east side of the fire, called “the critical piece of the line”. Firefighters were strictly told to use situational awareness; hazard trees are of major concern on the Pine Fire. Crews will continue to make direct line around the Pine Fire, where possible, mopping up along the way.

This Tuesday morning, for the first time, Calfire’s Humboldt-Del Norte Unit Chief, Hugh Scanlon, spoke to the firefighters heading out to battle the blaze. He said, “I’ve lived here since 1982 and this is the driest it’s been. We appreciate all of your help.” He also re-iterated the overall safety message, “This is very steep terrain, be careful, stay safe and do good work.”

Calfire Deputy Incident Command Mark McKey reminded the firefighers, “You were fighting 70 fires, you’ve gotten it down to 7 and now it’s one main focus on the Pine Fire. We haven’t lost ground in a couple of shifts. Don’t worry about the Lassic Fire; we’ve made contingency plans for that. Focus on our fire and get it done.”

The Control Objectives remain the same: keep the Bluford and Pine Fires North of Zenia Bluff Road; south of Forest Service Road 02S08, Goat Rock & Moutain Creek; east of Alderpoint Road and West of Big Meadow.

The weather forecast for today’s operational period: Gusty southerly winds will develop at the ridge-tops with slightly stronger up valley winds at lower elevations. With warm and dry conditions continuing, there is the possibility of near critical fore weather conditions across the ridges this evening. Meanwhile, firefighters working the other fires in the Humboldt Complex were told to stay vigilant.

The Winchester Fire is burning 147 acres. Operations Chief, Felix Berbena, said: “There’s still lots of work to do on this one”. The Wildcat Fire is burning 304 acres. Berbena said, “There’s lots of work to do, cut out the islands.”

The Steelhead Fire is burning 1,338 acres. Firefighters “made good progress on the East side but need to continue to improve the line”.

The Dobbyn Fire is burning 820 acres. Firefighters have started to pull hose out, but were told, “don’t get in a big hurry, we’re expecting more wind and we don’t want to have to put hose back in.”

The Blocksburg Fire is burning 271 acres. Firefighters continue tactical patrols and continue to improve and hold existing hand and dozer line. All firefighters were reminded numerous times to, “Notify your supervisor of any safety hazards (trees) and ensure the area has been flagged off, request a faller if required.”

The Bluford Fire is burning 207 acres. Resources are being re-assessed, crews might go back in.

The Pine Fire is burning 1,421 acres (as of Monday night). Bulldozer crews continue to carve a new line north of the Pine Fire on the north-west side. The bulldozer line is a contingency line north, so that Calfire is ready in case the Lassic Fire and fires burning in the Mount Lassic Wilderness continue to move south toward Humboldt County’s State Responsibility Areas. The bulldozer crews successfully completed a line “4 blades wide to Charles Mountain” and they are now coming back down the line. Mop-up continues along the firing operation lines on the Pine Fire. Tree fallers are working the edges.

11 helicopters are working the Humboldt Complex today. Air Operations Chief Matt Stanford said, “Hot deck started at 8:30 am.” Firefighters working on the ground were told to be extremely cautious and aware of aircraft activity.

Cooperating Agencies include California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, PG&E, California Conservation Corps, CALTRANS, Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services, and the California National Guard. You will see all of them on Alderpoint Road and the narrow roads that join the Humboldt Complex fires.

All local drivers are asked to use extreme caution as fire crews navigate large, heavy equipment in southern Humboldt.

The Lassic Fire is burning 3 miles north-east of the Pine Fire in the Humboldt Complex. The Lassic Fire was burning 2,043 acres on Monday, according to the USFS the fire was very active during the night and grew to 2,491 acres. There are homes threatened outside of the wilderness area on the north edge of the Lassic Fire. The USFS is in charge of the fire operations, and they are coordinating with the sheriff’s office. There is already an evacuation advisory for people living in the Swayback Ridge area, and firefighters said that if the fire crosses Blanket Creek, which it is expected to do, then a mandatory evacuation will be in place. Air support hit the fire hard on Monday and will continue, both fixed wing aircraft & rotary helicopters dropped retardant & water.

The Lassic Fire is burning in rugged, steep, heavily timbered wilderness. USFS says, “Our biggest concern is that we don’t have solid lines around the fire. And weather conditions are changing, we expect more wind.” The north side of the Lassic Fire is Blanket Creek. If the fire crosses Blanket creek, mandatory evacuations will be enforced. Seven fire engines are on the northern edge of the fire, ahead of the fire near Blanket Creek. One engine is on Swayback Ridge Road. Handcrews are working the southern and western flanks in the Mount Lassic Wilderness, because bulldozers and chainsaws are not allowed in Wilderness areas.

Reminders:

Forest Glen: A mandatory evacuation order is in place for residents in the Forest Glen area, which is on Highway 36 west of Trinity Pines. A forest fire closure for the Forest Glen area begins at the intersection of Highway 36 and Rattlesnake Road (Forest Road 29N58) and continues west and south along Highway 36 to the intersection with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundary.

Swayback Ridge: An evacuation advisory is in place for the Swayback Ridge area.

Ruth Lake: Residents around Ruth Lake are under a mandatory evacuation. The evacuation includes the Lower Mad River Road (County Road 501) from Highway 36 to the Three Forks Road and the southwest side of the lake from Ruth/Zenia Road north to the Ruth Dam.

Van Duzen Road: Residents along the Van Duzen Road from the dump south to the intersection of the Ruth/Zenia Road are under an advisory evacuation.

To remain informed on evacuation status of the area call the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office at: (530) 623-2611.

Road Closures:

Highway 36 is under a hard closure (no one allowed to travel, including residents) from Lower Rattlesnake Road to the junction with Van Duzen Road (County Road 511).

A soft closure (residents with IDs allowed to travel) is in effect on the Van Duzen Road (County Road 511) from the junction of Highway 36 to the Ruth/Zenia Road (County Road 502).

A soft closure is also in effect on Lower Mad River Road (County Road 501) from the junction with Highway 36 to the Flying Double A Ranch.

Update, Sun, Aug. 9, 9:30 am - Information from Terri Klemetson, KMUD News, indicates:The Humboldt Complex fires burning near Alderpoint, Blocksburg and Fort Seward have now consumed 4,615 acres and are 45% contained. Calfire is now stating they expect full containment on the Humboldt Complex Fires on August 23, 2015.

At this Sunday morning’s 7 am Calfire briefing, Night Operations Chief Vince Bergland said the 6 fires to the south and west of the Pine Fire are “keeping quiet”, but there’s still a lot of mop up to do and firefighters have to stay vigilant to make sure nothing re-ignites. Operations Chief, Felix Berbena, said: "Branch I is turning the corner, but isn’t out of the woods yet.” Firefighters were told to continue to improve and hold existing hand and dozer lines, construct direct line where possible and mop up 300 feet inside the line on the Winchester, Wildcat, Steelhead, Dobbyn and Blocksburg fires. They were also told to eliminate re-burn potential and evaluate all islands of unburned fuels inside burned areas. The General Control Objectives are still focused on the Bluford and Pine fires. Specifically to keep the Bluford and Pine fires: North of Zenia Bluff Road; South of Forest Service Road 02S08, Goat Rock and Mountain Creek; East of Alderpoint Road and West of Big Meadow.

Overall good news on the Pine Fire was that crews successfully completed a hose lay around the whole fire. Now, firefighters need to hold the top line and continue to mop up the northern flank, making sure it doesn’t spill into the Mount Lassic Wilderness.The Pine Fire has been separated into multiple divisions of attack.-Pine C is is the western flank: The western plan of attack is to prevent lateral movement of the fire. Dozer crews are working hard to carve out a line on the west side. Crews were told to anchor the fire and continue direct line construction. Firing operations continue to the west and south in hopes of keeping the fire in the projected containment zone. Once the inversion layer lifts this Sunday afternoon, air operations will assist ground crews.-Pine L is north and a bit east: Crews on the north-east side of the fire will continue direct line construction.-Pine R is the new division on the eastern flank: Calfire says, “The east side is a hand crew show; it’s a tough line.” Very steep terrain makes firefighting and direct line construction difficult on the Pine Fire. Firefighters will continue to implement contingency lines to get more containment on the Pine Fire.

Meanwhile, bulldozer crews started a new line north of the Pine Fire on the west side. The bulldozer line is a contingency line north so the Calfire is ready in case the Lassic Fire and fires burning in the Mount Lassic Wilderness continue to move south toward Humboldt County’s State Responsibility Areas. Firefighters were told to, “Mitigate the Lassic, get ahead of the game!”

Fire growth is not anticipated on the Blocksburg , Bluford, Dobbyn, Wildcat or Winchester Fires. Minimal growth is expected within existing containment lines on the Steelhead Fire.

There are now 155 engines working the Humboldt Complex, 31 water tenders traveling the narrow, windy Alderpoint Road, 12 helicopters dropping water on the fire, 42 handcrews working on mop up and handlines around the containment zones, and 25 dozers plowing around the Humboldt Complex fires. Air Operations Chief, Matt Stanford, said that “In addition to water drops there might be retardant drops today. Multiple air tankers are scheduled to work this Sunday depending on weather conditions, aircraft will probably start flying around 1 pm.” Cooperating Agencies include California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, PG&E, California Conservation Corps, CALTRANS, Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services, and the California National Guard. You will see all of them on Alderpoint Road and the narrow roads that join the Humboldt Complex fires. All local drivers are asked to use extreme caution as fire crews navigate large, heavy equipment in southern Humboldt.

Meanwhile, The South Complex is burning thousands of acres in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest:

A public meeting will be held on TODAY, August 9, 2015 at 4pm at the Hyampom Volunteer Fire Department.A public meeting will be held Monday, August 10, 2015 at 4pm at the Burnt Ranch School.A public CAMP TOUR will be held at the Hyampom Airport Incident Command Post at 11am on Monday, August 10, 2015. Please call 530/628-0093 to indicate you plan to attend this!

Firefighters will be in the fire area and on the Hyampom Road today between the 3N16 and Hayfork assessing structures. Residents in the area are advised that this is for planning purposes, and is not a sign of imminent threat. Should the fire threaten structures, residents will receive further notification. A yellow Wildland Urban Interface placard advising firefighters and residents of the water sources, structure type, defensible space, and hazards that exist will be left at the property. Residents are advised to call the fire information line if they have questions. The fire was active all night, although cold air helped moderate activity after midnight.

Containment lines held at the South Fork of the Trinity River in the area of Wintoon and Walforff Flats, and crews continue to mop up and improve lines in that area as they see opportunities.

Crews successfully fired from the containment line at the back of the structures in the Kerlin Creek Area, merging that line with the advancing fire. The fire was active around Skunk Ranch, the Miller Place, and the Wigdon Place, and firefighters worked to suppress spot fires, extinguishing or tying them back into the main fire.

As of this morning, all of them have been either contained or put out. Containment lines on the west and northern sides of the Castle Fire held well through the night. The York Fire, which was treated with retardant late in the day yesterday as air cleared on the northern portion of the fire, held at those retardant lines, and crews will be out today taking advantage of that cooled edge to construct and improve containment lines. Engines patrolled the 5N60 Road and into Corral Bottoms all night, looking for rollout from the steep slope above and holding the fireline at the road.

The Red Cross has established an evacuation center at the Solid Rock Christian Church at the intersection of State Route 3 and Tule Creek Road in Hayfork. The Salvation Army is also offering water and meals to residents at the Church, whether or not they are staying at the evacuation center.

A Forest Closure (Order No. 14-15-03) (which includes areas inside the South Complex) is currently in effect. The closure prohibits going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Fork, South, Route and Mad River Complex Fire Closure Areas on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. For more information on the Forest Closure, click here.

THE FOLLOWING LIST INCLUDES ALL CURRENT HYAMPOM AREA EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES:

Mandatory Evacuations as of 6 p.m. on August 8 include:• Skunk Ranch area• End of Kerlin Creek Road• Corral Bottom Road west of the intersection with the 16 continuing onto the 60 road to the Four Corners area.• Castle Rock Area-residences in the area of Underwood Mountain Road, Castle Rock and Hog Ranch including 5N40 Road, 5N07 Road, 5N09 Road, Big Lake, Hidden Lake, to 5N60 Road to Mill Creek Road.

Hyampom Area: (In case of evacuation, these routes will not be accessible.)• Corral Bottom Road west of the 16• On the Underwood Mountain Road, Four Corners area60 Road north of Hyampom (closed past the school)

The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office is assisting firefighting efforts in evacuation zones. The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office has conducted evacuations in the following areas:

Road Closures:- Hwy 3 is closed from the Trinity County Fairgrounds to 13 Dips Road. The roadblock is located at Rattlesnake Road- Kingsbury Gulch Road is closed from the end of the pavement- Wildwood Road (302) – Closed from the north side of Carrier Gulch Road (31N49) at Stafford Crossing, south to the Gemmil Gulch picnic area (30N04)- Hwy 36 – Closed at Forest Glen west to Lower Mad River Road

MAD RIVER COMPLEX: Communities of Ruth Lake and Mad River

Mandatory Evacuations:- Ruth Lake Area - Lower Mad River Road (County Road 501) from Hwy 36 to the Three Forks Road and the southwest side of the lake from Ruth/Zenia Road north to the Ruth Dam

Voluntary Evacuations:- Forest Glen Area which is on Hwy 36 west of Trinity Pines- Swayback Ridge Area

Advisory Evacuations:- Van Duzen Road - Along Van Duzen Road from the Van Duzen Dump Road south to the intersection of the Ruth/Zenia Road

Road Closures:- Hwy 36 – Hard closure from the junction with the Lower Mad River Road (County Road 501) east to the community of Forest Glen- Van Duzen Road (County Road 511) – Soft closure from Browns Canyon south to the Ruth/Zenia Road- Lower Mad River Road (County Road 501) – Soft closure from the junction with Hwy 36

RIVER COMPLEX: Communities of Dailey Ranch, Hoboken, Denny, Trinity Village and Quinby

ROUTE COMPLEX: Communities of Hyampom, South Fork Mountain and west of Van Duzen

Mandatory Evacuations:- End of Kerlin Creek Road

Voluntary Evacuations:- Not applicable for Trinity County at this time

Road Closures:- Forest Service Route 1 – Closed approximately 5 miles north of Hwy 36 at Forest Service Road 2N12 to north of the fire at Forest Service Road 4N18- Van Duzen Road (County Road 511) – Soft closure from Browns Canyon south to the Ruth/Zenia Road

SOUTH COMPLEX: Communities of Hyampom, Corral Bottom and Underwood Mountain area

The Red Cross has set-up an evacuation center at the Solid Rock Christian Church at the intersection of Hwy 3 and Tule Creek Road in Hayfork. The Salvation Army is also offering water and meals at the Solid Rock Christian Church.

Denny Area Mandatory Evacuations:Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Denny and anyone using Denny Road to leave the area. At the request of California Interagency Management Team 3, the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department is initiating a mandatory evacuation of the Denny, Dailey, Hoboken and Bell Flat areas due to increased fire activity and limited resources to provide structure protection. A hard road closure is in effect on Denny Road at the junction of Forest Road 7N26 at Onion Saddle. Denny Road is passable but use caution due to falling fire debris and rocks.

Castle Rock Area Mandatory Evacuations:Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Underwood Mountain Rd, Castle Rock and Hog Ranch including 5N40 road, 5N07 Road, 5N09 Road, Big Lake, Hidden Lake, to 5N60 Road to Mill Creek Road.

Mill Creek Rd Voluntary Evacuations:Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for the following area from Highway 299 about 1 mile down Mill Creek Rd.

Ruth Lake Area Mandatory Evacuations:Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Mad River Rd from Highway 36 to Three Forks Road area and the backside of the lake on Ruth/Zenia Road to the Ruth Dam.

Van Duzen Road Advisory:Advisory Notifications have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Van Duzen Road from the dump to the intersection of the Ruth Zenia Road. There is potential fire activity moving into this area. Please be prepared for notifications to evacuate.

Road Closures for Mad River Area:Hard Closure: Hwy 36 from just East of Forest Glen (Hell Gate) to Mad River Road and Lower Mad River Rd to Ruth/Zenia Rd.Soft Closure: Ruth/Zenia Road to Three Forks Area and Van Duzen Road from the Dump to X of Ruth/Zenia RoadNo evacuation Center at this time.

Wildwood Area Evacuations:

Wildwood Area Mandatory Evacuations:Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for Wildwood Road (Rd302) from Gemmill Gulch to the east side of East Fork Road and all of East Fork Road. Shiell Ranch has been upgraded from Voluntary to a Mandatory Evacuation.Voluntary Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Wildwood Road (Rd302) from Gemmill Gulch to Hwy 36 including the town of Wildwood and all of its residents.

Road Closures of Wildwood Area:Hard Closure: Wildwood Road (302) is closed from the north side of Carrier Gulch (31N49) at Stafford Crossing, south to the Gemmill Gulch picnic area (30N04)**All of Hwy 36 is closed just east of Forest Glen at Hell Gate campground to the intersection of Hwy 36 and Mad River Road**

Hayfork Area Evacuations:

Kingsbury Gulch Mandatory Evacuations:Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences on Kingsbury Gulch Road past the pavement.

Mill Gulch Mandatory Evacuations:Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for the Mill Gulch area.

Morgan Hill Road Voluntary Evacuations:Voluntary Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Morgan Hill Road including Pine Avenue, Center Street and Madrone Avenue.

Forest Glen Voluntary Evacuations:Voluntary evacuation have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department for residences in the Forest Glen area, which on Hwy 36 West of Trinity Pines.

Trinity Pines Voluntary Evacuations:Voluntary Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the Trinity Pines.

Barker Creek Road Voluntary Evacuations:The Mandatory Evacuations which have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Barker Creek Road have been downgraded to Voluntary.

Farmer Ranch Road Voluntary Evacuations:Voluntary Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Farmer Ranch Road.

13 Dips Road Mandatory Evacuations:The Mandatory Evacuations which have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences on 13 Dips Road.Road Closures for Hayfork Area:

Hard Closure: Kingsbury Rd where the pavement ends. Hwy 3 from the intersection of Hwy 36 into Hayfork is still closed *including Rattlesnake Rd* & *13 Dips Road*, Hwy 36 from just east of Forest Glen (Hell Gate) to Mad River Road is still closed.**Hwy 36 to Red Bluff/Redding is open and Road 10 into Hayfork is open for Trinity Pines residents to use.Red Cross Evacuation Center for Hayfork is at: Solid Rock Christian Church, 66 Tule Creek Rd, Hayfork

Hyampom Area Evacuations:

Corral Bottom Mandatory Evacuations:Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for the following areas from the intersection of Road 16 and Road 47 to Road 47 to Road 60 and Road 60 into Hyampom.

Corral Bottom Road Area Voluntary Evacuations:At the intersection of Corral Bottom Road and the five-way cross of 47 Road, all privately owned residences south to the 60 Road and on the 60 Road all private residences in the area of Hidden Lake to Chaparall Mountain.

St. Johns Road Area Voluntary Evacuations:Voluntary Evacuations have been ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for the area of St. Johns Road to the end of South Fork River Trail starting at about Mile Marker 4.

End of Kerlin CreekMandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences at the end of Kerlin Creek Rd.

Skunk Ranch AreaMandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for the Skunk Ranch Area.

Voluntary Evacuation Notices for the Hyampom AreaProperty Areas listed below are for the private property owners in the area of:~Wintu Flat~Waldorf Flat~Grel Ranch~Oak Flat~Manzanita Ranch

Road Closures for Hyampom Area:As a result of extreme fire danger and evacuations orders in the Hyampom Area, if you are a resident of and are evacuating, you will need to leave the area using Hyampom Road into Hayfork as Road 60 and Road 47 are closed due to fire activity.Hard Closure: Intersection of Road 16 & Road 47 and Kerlin Creek Road @ Lower South Fork Road.

Update, Fri., Aug. 7, 9:30 am - Information from Terri Klemetson, KMUD News, indicates:Wildland near Bridgeville, Blocksburg, Alderpoint and Zenia continues to burn as firefighters from around the state work to suppress the Humboldt Complex fires. 4,062 acres are on fire with 35% containment. Four outbuildings have been destroyed, cattle continue to run from fire and millions of dollars of private timberland is threatened. There are 7 active fires, and spot fires continue to flare up.

At this morning’s Calfire briefing, Night Operations Chief Vince Bergland said the good news is that the fire lines in the southern portion of the Humboldt Complex are holding. But spot fires continue to flare up, so firefighters need to stay vigilant. There are 11 aircraft working the Humboldt Complex today; those include 3 National Guard aircraft, 3 Type II helicopters as well as air tankers.

The Pine Fire in the Humboldt Complex (click here to see location on CalFire map) is now 1,275 acres and considered priority #1. Firefighters worked hard to suppress spot fires Thursday night. Firefighters conducted firing operations on the top to secure the northern flank last night. Dozers, aircraft and hand crews will continue to "button up" the east flank today.

North of the Pine Fire in the Mount Lassic Wilderness area the Lassic fire, managed by the Forest Service, is growing; it’s now at 1,359 acres.

The Bluford fire, to the east of the Pine Fire, is 207 acres. Calfire’s control objectives are focused on the Pine and Bluford fires, specifically to keep the fires: north of Zenia Bluff Road; south of Forest Service Road 02S08, Goat Rock and Mountain, and to keep them east of Alderpoint Road and west of Big Meadow.

The Dobbyn Fire is 819 acres. There was a half acre spot fire at the Dobbyn fire that was contained.

The Steelhead Fire is 1,337 acres. Firefighters did conduct fire operations Thursday night, brought the fireline back to the river. Everyone needs to keep their eyes on the southern edge where a previous spot fire occurred.

The Winchester Fire is 147 acres. Firefighters were told to go the extra mile, mop up the normal 100 feet but, if possible, to 300 feet and “don’t lose any real estate”.

The Wildcat Fire is 304 acres. Night Operations Chief, Vince Bergland, said there was spotting last night, but firefighters are starting to make good progress on containment.

The Blocksburg Fire is 269 acres. Firefighters were told to “put it to bed” in hopes of easing the minds of the 40 homeowners nearby.

Road Information:Highway 36 is closed from the Humboldt/Trinity county line to State Route 3 in Trinity County. Caltrans says Highway 20 will reopen this morning at 10 a.m. There’s still a lot of fire activity, and CHP will have extra enforcement present. Motorists are asked to use caution when traveling these routes, as fire workers and vehicles will be active.

Shasta Trinity National Forest, South Complex, update as of 8 am this Friday morning:A heavy smoke inversion in the area moderated fire growth overnight, and helped firefighters continue to hold and improve containment lines. On the Pelletreau Fire, firefighters completed their overnight goal for strategic firing operations and held the fire perimeter around Waldorff and Wintoon Flats. Today they will continue mopping up and firing as conditions permit to secure the line at the river. Firefighters held and mopped up burning operations along Pelletreau Creek and across Forest Road 3N14, and they will be in the area today creating containment line with dozers behind the structures in the Kerlin Creek Area. Some isolated flare-ups were observed in the area around Skunk Ranch, and those were addressed and monitored overnight. Resources will remain in the area today, providing point protection and working to build containment lines on the western side of the fire. Drought- and disease-stressed trees along Route 60 continue to fall as the fire reaches them, causing a safety concern for firefighters and residents in the fire area. Tree fallers will be in the area today felling and removing trees.

Weather today is expected to be warm, with high temperatures around the Complex, predicted to be in the upper 80s to low 90s. A chance of isolated lightning is possible, as a storm moves through to our south.

Evacuations and Closures - The Red Cross has established an evacuation center at the Solid Rock Christian Church at the intersection of State Route 3 and Tule Creek Road in Hayfork. The Salvation Army is also offering water and meals to residents at the Church, whether or not they are staying at the evacuation center.

Mandatory Evacuations as of 8 a.m. on August 7 include residences along:1. Skunk Ranch area2. End of Kerlin Creek Road3. Corral Bottom area from the intersection of Road 16 and Road 47 to Road 47 to Road 60 and Road 60 into Hyampom

Voluntary Evacuations:1. Castle Rock Area-residences in the area of Underwood Mountain Road, Castle Rock and Hog Ranch including 5N40 Road, 5N07 Road, 5N09 Road, Big Lake, Hidden Lake, to 5N60 Road to Mill Creek Road.2. Corral Bottom-- From the intersection of Corral Bottom Road and the five-way cross of 47 Road, all privately owned residences south to the 60 Road and on the 60 Road all private residences in the area of Hidden Lake to Chaparral Mountain.3. Wintoon Flat4. Waldorf Flat5. Grel Ranch6. Oak Flat7. Manzanita Ranch Area (reduced to voluntary)

Road Closures:Hyampom Area: (In case of evacuation, these routes will not be accessible.)1. Intersection of Road 47 and Road 602. Intersection of Road 16 and Road 473. On the Underwood Mountain Road, Four Corners area

Hayfork Area:1. The Wildwood Road (302) is closed from the north side of Carrier Gulch Road (31N49) at Stafford Crossing, south to the Gemmil Gulch picnic area (30N04)2. Highway 3 from the south entrance of the Hayfork fairgrounds south to the junction of highway 363. Highway 36 is closed at Forest Glen west to Lower Mad River Road.

There are public information lines set up for all community members: Humboldt Complex Info: 707-418-0411. USFS Fire Info for Mad River Complex, Mount Lassic Wilderness or Ruth Lake: 707-574-6289.

The photo below is a satellite image, taken Aug. 6, from NASA's Earth Observatory showing the large plume of light to heavy smoke from the California fires moving eastward. The plumes at the top of the photo are from fires burning in Alaska and Canada.

Update, Thurs., Aug 6, 9:30 am -Brief updates on the Rocky Fire in Lake County and air quality in our region can be viewed at the bottom of this update. The following information is from a report by Terri Klemetson, KMUD News:

Humboldt Lightning Complex 7 am Calfire Briefing August 6, 2015:It’s been a week since lightning sparked the Humboldt Complex fires, and Calfire says they’re making good progress getting containment lines around the 8 blazes still burning. As of this Thursday morning, Calfire says the Humboldt Complex is burning 3,962 acres and yesterday’s containment estimate was 35%. At this morning’s Calfire briefing, Night Operations Chief Vince Bergland said that the southern section fires laid down nicely, but the Bluford Fire needs more tightening up. Firefighters did ignite fire as a defensive firing operation on the West side of the Pine Mountain Fire last night, Wednesday, to keep the fire from burning out of it’s projected containment lines.

Night operations reported one accident; a water tender slipped off a spur road near Pine Mountain Lane, so crews will be in the area cleaning up the traffic accident and re-opening that water supply. Bulldozers containment line construction will continue, and Calfire said they will assess the forest to start a new chipping operation to cut back on ladder fuels in the forest. The National Guard sent dozens of personnel to help on the Humboldt Complex fires, trucks, communications satellite ops and aircraft rolled into southern Humboldt this Thursday morning.

Today’s specific control objectives are to: identify and map all new fires, contain all new fires and mop-up within the fire perimeter, provide for the safety of crews, reduce the potential for heat-related injuries and to specifically keep the Bluford and Pine Fires: North of Zenia Bluff Road, South of Forest Service Road 02S08, Goat Rock and Mountain Creek, East of Alderpoint Road and West of Big Meadow.

Fire by fire objectives are as follows:Winchester Fire #47 burning 147 acres: Continue to improve and hold existing hand and dozer line. Construct direct line where possible and mop up 100 feet inside the line.

Pine Fire #44 C & L Burning 964 acres:This fire is the #1 Priority today, Thursday. Eight bulldozers are assigned to the Pine Fire along with engines and crews. Additionally, there will be multiple helicopters flying the area including National Guard air resources.

Firefighters were told to slow down on the local roads. People living in the Alderpoint Road area have complained about fast driving firefighters. Firefighters were warned that today is supposed to be the driest and hottest day of the week. All fires might show more burning activity, and firefighters need to keep safety at the forefront of all planning and attack.

The official Public Information Officer phone number for the Humboldt Complex is 707-418-0411. The official USFS public information number for the fires burning in Trinity County, including Black Lassic is 707-574-6289

Rocky Fire information from a CalFire incident report update:As our local fires continue to be managed, the Rocky Fire in Lake County has now burned around 70,000 acres of mixed forest and chaparral east of Clearlake, near Morgan Valley Road and Rocky Creek Road. According to a CalFire incident update, dated, August 6, 2015 9:45 am, this fire started on July 29, 2015 3:29 pm and is currently 40% contained. The report indicates that 43 residences and 53 outbuildings have been destroyed and 8 structures damaged. A long list of mandatory and advisory evacuations is in force, and several road closures have been announced - click here to see more details. Also, click here to read about how the intense burning of this fire has created its own weather.

Air Quality continues to be a concern for many in our area. Here's the latest from North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District in Eureka:Continued areas of smoke, haze, and degraded air quality are being experienced throughout Humboldt, Del Norte, and Trinity Counties due to numerous wildfires. Smoke from the Rocky Fire in Lake County continues to head northward and add to the smoke from local fires. Weather forecasts indicate warm and dry conditions with increased smoke dispersion and fire activity. An upper level low pressure system is approaching the area and will bring dry lightning today through Friday. The Trinity River Valley can expect smoke for the next few days. Smoke will likely settle in nearby canyons, valleys, and basins causing poor air quality. Air quality monitors in the Eureka area continue to show good to moderate air quality.

Update, Wed., Aug. 5, 9:30 am- Interview submitted by KMUD News Director, Terri Klemetson, updating the status of the Lightning Complex Fires.Use the SoundCloud Player below to hear this interview done Tues., Aug. 4 and broadcast that evening on the KMUD Local News.

Also, according to an update from CalFire, dated Wed., Aug 5 at 8:30 am, the Humboldt Lightning Fires in the Alder Point-Blocksburg area, comprised of over 70 fires, have burned 3,702 acres and are 30% contained. An advisory evacuation for the community of Blocksburg was lifted at 6:00 p.m. Monday August 3, 2015, but Highway 36 is still closed from the Humboldt/Trinity county line to 3.5 miles west of the Trinity/Shasta county line. The report describes current conditions as follows: After a damage assessment, it was determined that no residence was destroyed. Four outbuildings were destroyed in the Dobbyn Fire. A total of 7 fires over 100 acres have burned 3,242 acres. Active fires range in size from 142 to 953 acres. Threat continues to commercial timberland. Much of the timberland is owned by small timberland and rangeland owners, who rely on timber and range revenue for a steady source of income. Fires threaten habitat for threatened and endangered species.

Additional information from KMUD News Facebook Page reads as follows:Dozer crews headed out to the Pine Mountain fire again this Wednesday morning to tie in more of the northern side. That fire has grown to 804 acres and Calfire says they want to keep it away from the Black Lassic wilderness area.The Dobbyn Fire grew to 785 acres, but bulldozers made good progress on Tuesday tying in the eastern boundary of the fire. Firefighters will continue to mop up and tie in the line around the fire.

Meanwhile, the Steelhead fire united with a fire burning to the south. Calfire said that was the plan in order to complete the ridgeline contingency line as they work to mop up the hot spots dotting the perimeter. The Steelhead Fire is now 1,191 acres and is the largest fire in the complex.

Update, 9:30 am, Tues., Aug. 4 (information from Terri Klemetson, KMUD News): The big news at this Tuesday morning’s Calfire briefing for the Humboldt Lightning Complex was the evacuation advisory being lifted in the Blocksburg area. That being said, firefighters were told to work hard and make containment lines a reality on the 8 fires still burning near Alderpoint and Blocksburg.

Calfire says the Humboldt Lightning Complex is burning 2,895 acres with only 20% containment. 200 structures are still threatened. Incident Commander, Tom Nix, said he was proud of the crew's incredible work taking the fire count from 75 fires to 8 fires still burning actively in the complex, but he stressed the need to attack them hard today.

Firefighting crews stayed on the scene Monday night and conducted another firing operation on fire #1-58 near Cemetery Road. The fire operation reportedly went well, and that fire is now burning 266 acres.

Meanwhile, fires #44 and #65 were active fires until after sundown. Fire #44, burning on Pine Mountain, has consumed 613 acres. Dozer crews are headed out to the Pine Mountain Fire today, and air resources have been assigned to attack the fire on Pine Mountain as well. Fire #65 is burning just south of Black Lassic, in the Six Rivers National Forest, NW of Zenia Road; it has consumed 185 acres.

Firefighters were told to improve the dozer line around fire #47, the fire near Winchester Ridge, which is now burning 142 acres. Fire #51 is the fire near Willow Draw, flanked by the Eel River on it’s northern edge, west of Fort Seward. Crews reported good progress on #51 but were told to continue to improve and expand the bulldozer lines around the fire, which is burning 280 acres.

On Monday, fire #54 was a big priority, burning 502 acres south of Fort Seward with the Eel River flanking it’s west side, but at Tuesday’s meeting it wasn’t mentioned as a priority, and the new maps show the fire is now burning 579 acres. The largest fire, #57 near Dobbyn’s creek, is still holding at 749 acres.

Calfire’s website states, “threat continues to commercial timberland with an estimated value of $15,000,000. Much of the timberland is owned by small timberland and rangeland owners.”

Update, Noon/Monday, Aug. 3: As of 10 this morning the Humboldt lightning complex fires have burned approximately 2,692 acres. Cal Fire says they have 15% containment on more than 70 separate fires.Firefighters continue to arrive at the Eel River Conservation camp near Redway to help contain the blaze. Cal Fire says there are now 1,232 firefighters and 86 engines, along with numerous helicopters and water tankers.

At this morning’s 7 am briefing, three priority fires were outlined. Priority #1 is the fire called #1-54 (click here to see a Calfire map showing its location). This fire is burning 396 acres south of Fort Seward with the Eel River flanking it’s west side. The other priorities are fire #1-47 and #1-51. Fire #47 (click here to see map) is burning 119 acres in steep terrain near Winchester Ridge and Fire #51 (click here to view map) is burning 173 acres near Willow Draw flanked by the Eel River on its northern edge, west of Fort Seward. Calfire said they did discover 4 new fires yesterday Sunday and are advising crews to be vigilant, lightning could still strike and ignite more vegetation.

Firefighters made good progress on fire #58 burning 232 acres near Cemetery Road as of midnight last night. The dozer line expanded and they are tying it into the Conley Creek burn area.

More firefighters are being sent to 3 fires burning near the Humboldt Trinity county line, technically burning on Forest Service Land. Calfire is running operations, as all state resources are taxed at this time. Those fires include #44, a fire burning 277 acres near Pine Mountain and fire #65 burning 110 acres just south of Black Lassic, in the Six Rivers National Forest.

In Shasta-Trinity National Forest:The Trinity Alps Wilderness is being consumed two fires. The Groves Fire is burning at 722 acres and the Elk Fire at 607 acres.

The River Complex, is located north of Burnt Ranch, west of Denny. This complex has been burning since Thursday, July 30th. As of 6:45 am., the River Complex is estimated at 3,745 acres, with no containment. There are 241 firefighters working to contain the blaze. The complex started as 18 fires that have now conjoined into 7. These 7 are Groves Fire, Dyer Fire, Onion Fire, Look Fire, Smokey Fire, Elk Fire, and Happy Fire. Today’s focus for the River Complex, is to defend and protect structures in the areas of Denny, Dailey and Hoboken. It is in these areas that there are voluntary evacuations.

The Fork Complex burning near the communities of Hayfork, Hyampom and Harrison Gulch, is now at approximately 25, 313 acres . As of 7 am, US Forest Service has reported 5% containment. The Complex consists of 40 fires, and has caused a variety of mandatory evacuations.

In Six Rivers National Forest:The Mad River Complex, located along Ruth Lake and the Mad River communities, has been burning since July 30th, with what was originally 25 fires. Now down to seven, the total burned area is approximated at 13,127 acres, with a 5% containment. This complex is composed of the following seven fires: the Lassic Fire, the Jack Fire, the Swayback, the Tierney Fire, the Buck Fire. the Gobbler Fire, and the Pickett Fire.

In the Hayfork area:• Residences at Trinity Pines• Residences in the area of Barker Creek Road• Mill Gulch—Gulch Road (Highway 3 north to Hayfork)• Kingsbury Gulch Road in the area of Morgan Hill Rd from Pine St to Kingsbury Gulch Rd, including Kingsbury Rd, Center St, Dirt Rd.

Voluntary Evacuations are in place for Residences in the area of Farmer Ranch Rd.

Update, 9 am/Mon., Aug 3 (information from Terri Klemetson, KMUD News-Humboldt Lightning Complex 7 am briefing):The Humboldt Lightning Complex fires have burned approximately 2,692 acres since Thursday July 30th. Calfire says they have 15% containment on the more than 70 separate fires. Firefighters continue to arrive at the Eel River Conservation Camp near Redway to help contain the blazes. Calfire says there are now 1,153 firefighters and 72 engines along with numerous helicopters and water tankers fighting the Humboldt Lighting Complex.

The other priorities are fire #1-47 and #1-51. #47 (click here to see map) is burning 119 acres in steep terrain near Winchester Ridge and Fire #51 (click here to view map) is burning 173 acres near Willow Draw flanked by the Eel River on its northern edge, west of Fort Seward.

Calfire said they did discover 4 new fires yesterday, Sunday, Aug. 2, and are advising crews to be vigilant, lightning could still strike and ignite more vegetation.

Firefighters made good progress on fire #58 burning 232 acres near Cemetery Road, the dozer line expanded and they are tying it into the Conley Creek burn area.

More firefighters are being sent to 3 fires burning near the Humboldt Trinity county line, technically burning on Forest Service land. Calfire is running operations, as all state resources are taxed at this time. Those fires include #1-44 a fire burning 277 acres near Pine Mountain and fire #65 burning 110 acres just south of Black Lassic, in the Six Rivers National Forest.

Fire #43 is still burning 303 acres near Steelhead Road. Meanwhile Fire #57, in the Dobbyn’s Creek area, is burning 516 acres. This fire is holding well and firefighters said they will be assessing overall containment of the fire near Dobbyn’s Creek this afternoon "to evaluate whether they can lift the evacuation advisory by 6 pm tonight, Monday."

An advisory evacuation is in place for the community of Blocksburg. A temporary evacuation center and informational center has been set up at the Alderpoint Volunteer Fire Department at 17440 Alderpoint Road.

Update, 9:50 am/Sun., August 2 -: Twocommunity meetings will be held today, Sun., August 2: the first will begin at 1pm at the Hayfork Community Church in Hayfork, and the second will start at 4pm in Hyampom, at the Volunteer Fire Department. Fire management staff will provide operational updates and provide closure and evacuation information.

The Humboldt Lightning Complex fires burning in southern Humboldt have consumed approximately 2,300 acres, according to Incident Commander Tom Nix as of this Sunday, morning’s 7 am briefing.Firefighters will continue to mop up dozens of fires that sparked during Thursday’s lightning event. Meanwhile, crews will attack 5 fires in the now-designated Branch I. Those fires are burning between 30-100 acres each.

Branch III, just a couple of miles north of Branch I, includes the 400 acre fire near Blocksburg. Calfire crews will continue to monitor the firing operation that was conducted Saturday night, keeping the fire within the perimeter control lines. The rest of Branch III is in patrol status, Calfire and local agency crews will be checking on all contained fires to make sure they are not re-igniting. The Infrared Mapping located 4 hot spots from the North to South on the map, they are: 173 acres north of Willow Draw Creek and south of the Eel River; 119 acres just north of and touching Winchester Ridge; 396 acres burning Hamner Flat east; and 166 acres burning near Steelhead Road.The Blocksburg area is under an evacuation warning. If anyone needs shelter, the Alderpoint Volunteer Fire Station is open to the community. Click here to see the the CAL FiIRE map showing Branch 1, 2 and 3. Links to other CAL FIRE maps are found at the bottom of this page.

Update, Noon/Sat., August 1: There is an informational meeting about the southern Humboldt evacuations at 6 pm at the Baptist Church in Bridgeville (48215 Alderpoint Road) tonight, August 1st. See below for other updates:

Down River Area Evacuations~Denny Area Voluntary Evacuations: For the town of Denny and surrounding area US Forest Service is recommending voluntary evacuations at this time. Multiple fires are threatening Denny Road and the ability to evacuate the area.~Castle Rock Area Mandatory Evacuations: Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Underwood Mountain Rd, Castle Rock and Hog Ranch including 5 N 40 road, 5 N 07 Road, 5 N 09 Road, Big Lake, hidden Lake, to 5 N 60 Road to Mill Creek Road~Mill Creek Rd Voluntary Evacuations: Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for the following area from Highway 299 about 1 mile down Mill Creek Rd

Road Closures for Down River Area: Soft Closures Hwy 299 @ Underwood Mountain Rd. No Evacuation Center at this time

Mad River/Ruth Area Evacuations:~Ruth Lake Area Mandatory Evacuations: Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Mad River Rd from Highway 36 to Three Forks Road area and the back side of the lake on Ruth/Zenia Road to the Ruth Dam

Road Closures for Mad River Area: Hard Closure: Hwy 36 @ Forest Glen west to Lower Mad River Rd and Lower Mad River Rd to Ruth/Zenia Rd - Soft Closure: Ruth/Zenia Rd to Three Forks Area

Hayfork Area Evacuations:~Kingsbury Gulch Mandatory Evacuations: Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Morgan Hill Rd from Pine St to Kingsbury Gulch Rd, including Kingsbury Rd, Center St, Dirt Rd

Mill Gulch Mandatory Evacuations:~Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for the Mill Gulch area

Trinity Pines Mandatory Evacuations:~Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for residences in the area of Trinity Pines you will need to evacuate to Post Mountain Road to Highway 36 to Red Bluff or Highway 36 to Highway 3 to Hayfork.

Hyampom Area Evacuations:~Corral Bottom Mandatory Evacuations ~Mandatory Evacuations have been requested by US Forest Service and ordered by the Trinity County Sheriff's Department for the following areas from the intersection of Road 16 and Road 47 to Road 47 to Road 60 and Road 60 into Hyampom ~End of Kerlin Creek Rd ~Skunk Ranch Area ~Manzanita Ranch Area

See the original post on this story below. Links to the current fire maps are located at bottom of the page.

In response to the many fires raging in California, exacerbated by drought and extreme weather, Governor Brown declared a state of emergency to help mobilize additional firefighting and disaster response resources. In a statement made yesterday, July 31, 2015, Brown said, “California’s severe drought and extreme weather have turned much of the state into a tinderbox,” and added that, “Our courageous firefighters are on the front lines and we’ll do everything we can to help them.”

The following is a KMUD News Special Bulletin about fires in our area, as of Sat., August 1, 2015:

Humboldt County:

Calfire says fires in Humboldt county are now burning 900 acres and growing with only 5% containment. Sheriff Downey has issued a precautionary evacuation advisory for Blocksburg, due to wildfire. No mandatory evacuation orders are in effect. Residents of Blocksburg are being told to get ready for evacuation. Meanwhile, firefighters on the ground and in the air continue to battle fires in the Alderpoint & Blocksburg area.

Road Closures:Hyampom Area: (In case of evacuation, these routes will not be accessible.)1. Intersection of Road 47 and Road 602. Intersection of Road 16 and Road 473. On the Underwood Mountain Road, Four Corners area

A series of workshops and meetings are scheduled to review the Land Use Maps in the Humboldt County General Plan Update. According to a press release from the county, "The workshops offer an opportunity for community members to learn more about what is proposed to change and what will remain the same in their local area. In addition to the workshops there are three public hearings where the Board will hold formal meetings about the maps and accept public testimony."

The press release also states, "Owners who have land-use changes will be receiving a courtesy notice, with the proposed changes, ahead of the meetings so that they can attend a meeting in their area. In order to have time to answer phone inquiries the notices will be released over a three week period. Affected owners will be getting their notices between May 30 and June 20."

The workshop schedule and a previously aired story on the workshops appear below.

Use the player above the hear audio from the forum and the SoundCloud player below to hear more background on the Blue Ribbon Commission in a report by Terri Klemetson, aired on the KMUD News Friday May 29, 2015.

The original post with additional information apprears below:

A special public policy forum to discuss the unique public policy challenges related to marijuana legalization affecting California’s North Coast will be held in Garberville this Friday, May 29 at the Redwood Playhouse in the College of the Redwoods Building at 286 Sprowel Creek Road in Garberville. Congressman Jared Huffman and Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom will participate in the forum which will run from 1-2:30 pm.

Information will be presented from the document titled: "PROGRESS REPORT-Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy" Click here to read or download a pdf version of that document. A media advisory, received by KMUD News, describes the Blue Ribbon Commission as follows: "The Blue Ribbon Commission, chaired by Lt. Governor Newsom and formed in partnership with the ACLU of Northern California, aims to inform voters and policymakers on the key challenges related to marijuana legalization in California, in anticipation of a likely 2016 ballot initiative."

KMUD will do a live broadcast of the forum and archive the program at kmud.org.

Feedback from policymakers, researchers and the public on the issues raised in this Progress Report, as well as on other issues related to the taxation, regulation and legalization of marijuana in California, is welcomed. The Progress Report suggests the following as guidelines for feedback:

1. Are there points raised in this report with which you disagree? If so, why? Please do share information, reports, or analysis that helps you form your view on that issue.

2. What particular solutions or approaches do you recommend policymakers pursue in the areas described in the Progress Report?

3. Are there particular topics raised in the Progress Report about which you would like to see the BRC provide further information and analysis?

4. Are there other issues that are not addressed in this Progress Report that you believe the BRC or policymakers should consider?

Please send comments via the feedback link on the BRC website at www.safeandsmartpolicy.org. Please send any attachments (using .pdf format) to: info@safeandsmartpolicy.org. A member of the BRC or its staff or consultants will review the comments; however, will not have the capacity to respond to each of the comments individually.

Anticipating the legalization of Cannabis in California, activists are launching a ballot initiative to form a Marijuana Policy Commission in Mendocino County. A recently formed group, the Mendocino Cannabis Policy Council (MCPC), is sponsoring the initiative, which they hope to see on the November 2015 county ballot.

Update- New audio added. A KMUD News report covering the May 7th NCRWQCB Workshop, an extended report on the workshop, aired by Kerry Reynolds on Cannabis Consciousness News, May 14, and a half-hour interview with Matt St. John, which aired on KMUD's Monday Morning Magazine, is now found on this page below.

According to a KMUD News interview with Matt St. John, Executive Officer for the California State North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB), the draft Order and Mitigated Negative Declaration requirements for Cannabis Farmers has been released for a 45 day public review and comment period. This comment period ends June 8. Click here to view or download the draft. Links to additional information, including the "Notice of Intent Form" and "Best Management Practices", can be found on the NCRWQCB website at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/public_notices/#grass

NCRWQCB held a workshop on May 7, in Eureka at the Warfinger Building, located at 1 Marina Way, from 9 am to 5 pm., to solicit public input about the draft. See the second SoundCloud player, below, for a news report on this workshop. Comments about the draft can be submitted by e-mail to: northcoast@waterboards.ca.govQuestions regarding the workshop or the draft Order and Mitigated Negative Declaration should be directed to Diana Henrioulle, by phone at 707-576-2542 or email at Diana.Henrioulle(at)waterboards.ca.gov, or Connor McIntee by phone at 707-576-2708 or email at Connor.McInte(at)waterboards.ca.gov. Note, in using these e-mail addresses, replace (at) with @.

The interview with Matt St. John, recorded by Kerry Reynolds and aired on KMUD News Friday, April 25, 2015, can be heard using the player below.

KMUD's Kerry Reynolds attended the May 7th Workshop and filed this report, which was broadcast on the KMUD Local News on Mon., May 11.

Using the player below, listen to, or down load audio from, this special edition of Cannabis Consciousness News, with Kerry Reynolds, featuring extended audio highlights from the May 7th North Coast Water Board meeting in Eureka, CA.

{mp3} news/Canna_Cons_NewsR {/mp3}

On Mon., May 11, hosts, Eric Kirk and Bob Froehlich, interviewed Matt St. John, Executive Officer for the California State North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, on KMUD's Monday Morning Magazine program, about the new draft order. Use the player below to hear or download this segment.

KMUD is a volunteer-based community organization that relies on financial support through KMUD memberships and donations. But our real power source is our wonderful volunteers. This page lists opportunities for volunteering at KMUD and information about how to get involved.

Please contact Kerry Morgan at the KMUD Business office (707) 923-2513 ext. 104 or kerry@kmud.org, if you are interested in helping. See the current volunteer opportunities below.